Page 41 - Carol LeBeau

Women of Distinction

By Judith A. Habert
Photos by Lisa K.Miller

Lynne Fruehling

President Red Lizard Creative

There is one factor that is hard to ignore when you enter the her reasoning was that she wanted to be on both sides of the
offices of Lynne Fruehling, there are red lizards all over the desk: the agency and the client. Lynne did some research
place. Not in a gaudy or tasteless sort of way, but it is a fact to try and find the niche that suited her. After much research
that is evident. Lynne has managed to brand her company she decided to concentrate on Health Care.
in such a way that
they are definitely Lynne went to work for
hard to forget: A task Scripps in their corpo-
that she set out to ac- rate office. As market-
complish four years ing manager at Scripps
ago when Lynne La Jolla, Lynne had the
took over the title of chance to think different-
President. ly. She was now across
the desk from the adver-
Red Lizard Creative tising companies. This
is expert in how, and gave her an interesting
why, people change perspective, and one that
their minds about many in the advertising
what brands and/or agency business rarely
services they buy. experience: She could San Diego
They are strategic see life from the client’s Woman
advisors who spe- point of view. When she
cialize in branding, was asked to return to
advertising, market- her agency to take over
ing, public relations, as President she gar- 41
interactive and nered all of the experi-
graphic design. And ence that she learned
their claim to turn (being a client) and
skeptics into believ- incorporated it into the
ers and believers into structure of Red Lizard
advocates is just part Creative. Lynne admits,
of what makes Red Lizard Creative so unique among ad- “We think differently here. We think ahead as to what the
vertising companies. Their uniqueness is mainly due to their client’s questions will be, because I was a client”
leader, Lynne Fruehling. You can’t help but be impressed
by this woman who clearly knows an industry that is often Red Lizard Creative focuses on a niche market including ag-
spearheaded by men. ricultural brands, healthcare, financial brands, and consumer
brands. Lynne admits, “I love my job…okay there are some
Lynne did not always intend to go into advertising. She days that I might not love it so much, but overall I thoroughly
earned her degree from UC Davis in English and planned enjoy what I do.” This comes through clearly to their clients.
on becoming a teacher. After a short trial with a sixth grade With an agency whose goal is to create the success of a
class (in her senior year) she quickly decided that teach- client by increasing sales and uniquely branding a client’s
ing, though a noble profession, was not where her heart lay. product or service, Red Lizard clearly does a fabulous job.
She went back to school and earned her master’s from San Such a good job in fact, that they recently received an Emmy
Diego State in marketing and media relations. Right out of nomination for outstanding achievement in television by the
college she was hired by the agency where she spent her National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the Pa-
internship and Lynne’s career was now on track. cific Southwest Chapter Emmy Awards. Red Lizard Creative
was nominated for their 30-second commercial - “Pandemic
Lynne joined her current agency in 1987, but decided to PSA”, a Public Service Announcement created to educate
leave and pursue other areas of advertising in 2001. Part of San Diego County residents of avian influenza or “bird flu”.

Sep/Oct2008